Lock mechanism for extension slide tables



Dec. 1, 1953 B. A. WOINA ETAL 2,661,257

' LOCK MECHANISM FOR EXTENSION SLIDE TABLES Filed March 10, 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheefl INVENTORJ' BENJAMIN A. WOINA yARCI-IER W. RICHARDS Ami/Vi) Dec. 1, 1953 B. A. WQINA ET AL LOCK MECHANISM FOR EXTENSION SLIDE TABLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1950 INVENTOR.

A. WOINA BYARCHER W. RICHARDS BENJAMIN rr/mew Dec. 1, 1953 B. A. WOlNA ET AL LOCK MECHANISM FOR EXTENSION SLIDE TABLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1950 JNVENTOR! BENJAMIN A WOINA BYARCHER W. RICHARDS Quill I Patented cc. 1, 1953 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 10, 1950, "Serial N0. 148,872

Cla'ims.

This invention relates in general to extension tables and, more particularly, to certain new'and useful improvements in look mechanism therefor.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a table having two identical half-sections each comprising a top-forming member :and two legs, and extensibly connected to each other by slide means comprising a pair of mutually slidable rail members.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a table-extending slide having associated therewith a locking mechanism whereby the table sections may be locked in any desired position'of extension.

It is .an additional object of the present invention to provide a table-slide which incorporates a pair of mutually slidable rails which are adapted to exert a pressure upon ball bearings disposed between said rails to prevent said ibearings from unauthorized free movement.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a ball bearing table-slide which is simple and economical in construction and can be readily fabricated from sheet metal or similar material.

parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :(three sheets),

Figure l is a perspective view of an extension table constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the table;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2,;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 55 of Figure 4.;

Figure 6 'is a transverse sectional View taken along line 6-5 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 7-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an exploded View of the slide;

Figure 9 is an exploded view of the inner and outer rail prior to assembly;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary, longitudinalsectional View showing the slide in partially assembled position;

2 Figure 11 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View showing the slide fully assembled position; and

Figure 12 is a top la iew of the as e e slide.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

adesignatesra table having atop I with-an inset, depending skirt 2 and comprising symmetrical sections 3, A, which arenormally in abutting reladownwardly depending flange ft of an angle bracket 1]] by means of arbolt ll which extends through aligned apertures in the flange 9 and the .walls of the members LB, and hasa washer T2 and nut l3 engaged on its projecting end (see Figure '7). Theangle bracket It is secured to the under rface zo f the table top lby its upper flange 14 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 15 for receiving screws 1-6 which are threaded into the table top l. Thus, the legs -.6

vprovide what might be called an eight pointsupport and thereby makes the table A sturdy'and rigid.

:Provided on the under side of the table to I is :a pair of spaced lslides s in parallel relation,

fand equidistant, to the longitudinal axis of the table top I. Each of said slides S comprises .an outwardly opening outer mail f], fabricated of sheet, metal and :of general channel-shaped .form, which is secured to the underJface, and ad'jacent "the inner, margin, of the section 13 of the table top l by,-a ,pair of spaced angle brackets T8 hav -ing downwardly directed flanges 19 which are welded, or otherwise-secured, to the webs 2-0 of the rails 5H,, and horizontal flanges}! which are secured -to the sectionA byscrews 22. Referring to .Figurez, it .will be noted that the rails I?! extend across the under face of the section :3 to a point immediately adjacent the end .portion of the skirt :2, while the opposite ends of the rails (I terminate approximately :midway thefllength of the section 4. Said ,rails llare provided with horizontal flanges 23, 24, which have integrally formed therein longitudinally extending and inwardly opening grooves 25, 23, respectively. Provided for disposition within the rails H are inwardly opening channel-shaped inner rails 21, substantially narrower than the rails i 1, and having flanges 28, 29, within which are formed outwardly opening grooves 30, 3|, respectively, in registration with the grooves 25, 26, respectively, of the rails H to form raceways 32, 32, within each of which is disposed a pair of ball bearings 33, 33, and 34, 34, respectively. The rails 21 are secured to the under face, adjacent the inner margin, of the section 3 by means of a pair of spaced angle brackets 35 having depending flanges 36 secured, as by welding, to the webs 31 f the rail 21, and horizontal flanges 33, which are secured to the section 3 by screws 29. Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the rails 21 extend across the under face of the section 4 to a point adjacent the end portion of the skirt 2, with its other end terminating at a point substantially midway the length of the section 3.

The total length of the distance between the base portions of the grooves 30, 3|, and the diameters of the ball bearings 33, 34, designated a: and d in Figure 8, is slightly greater than the distance between the bases of the grooves 25, 26, designated y in Figure 8, so that the ball bearings 33, 33', 34, 34, will cause a flexure of the rails I1, 21, which, in turn, effects a pressure or so-called pre-stress upon said ball bearings 33, 33', 34, 34, to prevent unauthorized free rolling thereof within the raceways 32, 32'.

The flanges 23, 24, of the rails l1 are integrally provided, centrally, with a pair of vertically aligned downstruck and upstruck tabs 40, 40, and 4|, 4|, respectively. Similarly, the flanges 28, 29, of the inner rails 21 are integrally provided, centrally, with a pair of vertically aligned upstruck and downstruck tabs 42, 42', and 43, 43', respectively.

In assembling the slides S in the inner rail 21 is inserted partially into the rail H, as shown in Figure 11. Thereupon, through one end of the rail [1, ball bearings 33, 34, are inserted into their respective raceways 32, 32, into adjacency with the tabs 42, 43', of the inner rail 21. Then detent tabs or end stops 44, 45, precut in the horizontal flanges 23, 24, respectively, proximate the adjacent end of the rails I1, are downstruck and upstruck, respectively, to prevent the ball bearings 33, 34, so inserted, from rolling out of the slides S. At the other end of the rail i1, ball bearings 33, 34, are inserted into their respective raceways 32, 32, to a point substantially adjacent the tabs 40, 4|, of the flanges 23, 24, respectively. Thereupon, detent tabs or end stops 44', 45, precut in the horizontal flanges 23, 24, respectively, and adjacent the other end of the rail H, are downstruck and upstruck, respectively, to prevent the balls 33', 34', from unauthorizedly rolling out of that end of the slides S.

Finally, adjacent each end of the rail 21, detent tabs 46, 46, and 41, 41, in the flanges 28, 29, respectively, are upstruck and downstruck, respectively. The rails 21 are then shoved 1nwardly within the rails l1 whereupon the ball bearings 33, 33, 34, 34', are engaged by the tabs 46, 42, 41, 43, respectively, of the rails 21 and are moved thereby into substantial abutment against the tabs 40', 44, 43, 4|, respectively, of the rails .|1, disposing said rails H, 21, in maximum telescoped relationship, which, after the slides S have been afiixed to the table top by the brackets I8, 35, corresponds to the sections 3, 4, being in abutting relation, as shown in Figure 1.

Thus, when the user desires to extend the sections 3, 4, of the table top to permit the insertion of a table leaf (not shown), in a conventional manner, the rails I1, 21, of the slides S, will extend in mutual longitudinal relation. Since the rails i1, 21, are each secured to but one of the sections 3, 4, the user, to efiect such extension, need only pull outwardly upon either one of the sections 3, 4, and not upon both, as is requisite with slides in current us. Outward extended movement of the sections 3, 4, will be limited by the ball bearings 33, 34, being rolled into detaining contact by the tabs 42, '3', of the inner rail 21 against the end stops 44, 45, of the outer rail I1, respectively.

It is to be particularly pointed out, with reference to Figures 10 and 11, that the ball bearings 33, 33', 34, 34, will contact the various tab members, as described above, across the apertures of the respective tabs developed in the flanges 23, 24, 28, 29, by the forming of said tabs. Thus, the force effected upon the tabs by impact with the ball bearings 33, 33', 34, 34, will impart to the tabs a backward rolling tendency, hich prevents the tabs from becoming flattened during long usage.

Provided at corresponding points in the web portions 23 of each rail approximately centrally within the portions of said rails I1 and extending across the under face of the sections 3, is a rectangular aperture 43 through which projects, into the space between the flanges 28, 23, of the rail 21, one end of a locking plate 43 of a latch mechanism L. Adjacent its end margin, the said projecting end of the plate 43 is provided with an aperture 53 aligned with an aperture 5| of reduced diameter in an angle plate 52 having a horizontal flange which is seated upon the upper face of the plate 49, and an upper flange 54, which is secured, as by welding, to the inner face of the web 20 of the rail I! (see Figure 4). Projecting downwardly through the aligned apertures 58, 5|, is a rivet 55, which is diametrally increased for relatively snugfitting engagement within the aperture 54, and is further diametrally increased in its lower portion, which extends below the under face of the plate 43, and has disposed thereabout the loop of a spring member 56, one end of which extends within the rail [1 and abuts against the inner face of the web 20 thereof, while the other end is led outwardly through the aperture 48 adjacent the under face of the plate 49 and has its end extremity hooked or bent upwardly for projecting engagement within a suitable aperture in the plate 49. Thereby, the plate 49 is biased in an axial, parallel relation with the transverse center line of the top I. The end margin of the projecting end of the locking plate 49 is cut away as at 51 and is rounded or arcuately formed in its remaining portion which is provided with a depending arcuate cam surface or flange 58 for normal abutment against the inner face of the web 31 of the rail 21. Adjacent its other end the locking plate 49 is provided with an aperture 59 through which extends the downwardly bent end 5|} of a rod member Bl, said end 58 being prevented from unauthorized upward movement through the aperture 59 by teat-like projections 62 adjacent its end extremity. The rods 6| extend in mutual converging relationship across the under face of the sections 3, 4-, to a point substantially centrally of the under face of the section 4 and in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the table top i, wheneesaid rods 6! are led, in adjacent relationship, parallel to the axial center line of the table top 1, to a point adjacent the -end skirt '2 where said rods 6i are bent laterally outwardly to provide a handle member 83. The rods iii are maintained in adjacency by means of a bracket member 63 having a flange -65 secured to the under face of the table top by a screw (55, a downwardly directed arm i5! and a lower horizontal flange 53 upon which the rods e1 are supported. Suitably engaged upon the free end or the flange E8 of the bracket 54 is a hold-down member having a flange if] parallel to the flange es and disposed upon the upper faces of the rods 5%, with its end retentively projecting through an aperture II in the 'armtto'f the bracket =54 "(see Figure 6).

To free the sections 3, 4, for extension, the user pulls the handle 63 outwardly causing the locking plates 49 to be swung about the rivets 55 thereby swinging the cam surfaces 53 out of engagement with the webs 31 of the rails 2?. lhe rails ii, 27, are, thus, free for relative movement to extend said sections 3, 4. After the limit of extensible movement desired has been reached, the user releases the handle 53', thereby permitting the locking plates 49, through action of the springs 55, to be rocked into locked position, with the cam surfaces 58 returned to tight abutment against the webs 31, whereby further movement between the rails I1, 21, is prevented. It will be seen that by operatoin of the latch mechanism L the sections 3, 4, can be locked in any desired degree of extension.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the extension table may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A locking mechanism for an extension slide table comprising a table top member having first and second sections adjustably connected by a slide comprising an outer rail having an aperture in one face thereof, an inner rail telescopically nested within the outer rail, and ball bearings disposed between said rails whereby said rails may be moved with relation to each other; said locking mechanism comprising a locking plate extending through said aperture and normally abutting on its projecting end against the inner rail, whereby the rails are fixedly maintained in relative position, and control means for optionally swinging the locking plate out of engagement with the inner rail to permit relative movement between said rails.

2. A locking mechanism for an extension slide table comprising a table top member having first and second sections adjustably connected by a slide comprising an outer rail having an aperture in one face thereof, an inner rail telescopically nested within the outer rail, and ball bearings disposed between said rails whereby said rails may be moved with relation to each other; said locking mechanism comprising a locking plate extending through said aperture and normally abutting on its projecting end against the inner rail, whereby the rails are fixedly maintained in relative position, a spring member associated with said locking plate for biasing it 6 into abutment with said inner rail, and control means for optionally swinging the locking pl-ate out of engagement with the inner rail to permit relative movement between said rails.

3. A locking mechanism for an extension slide table comprising a table top member having first and second sections adjustably connected by a slide comprising an outer rail having an aperture in one face thereof, an inner rail telescopically nested within the outer rail, and ball bearings disposed between said rails whereby said rails may be moved with relation to each other; said locking mechanism comprising a locking plate extending through said aperture and normally abutting on its projecting end against the inner rail, whereby the rails are fixedly maintained in relative position, a spring member associated with said locking plate for biasing it into abutment with said inner rail, and elongated rod means secured to the other end of said plate for swinging said plate out of engagement with the inner rail to permit relative movement between said rails.

4. A self-locking extension slide comprising an outer channel having a U-shaped cross-sectional contour and integrally including a flat web portion and outwardly projecting marginal flanges, an inner channel of U-shaped cross-sectional contour and integrally including a web portion and outwardly projecting marginal flanges, said inner channel being dimensionally smaller than the outer channel for loose-fitting telescopic disposition within the outer channel, bearing means operatively disposed between the flanges of the outer and inner channels, respectively, for holding the inner channel in slidably shiftable spaced relation within the outer channel, a pivot-form ing member rigidly mounted upon the web of the outer portion and located within the confines of the inner channel, a locking plate rockably mounted upon the pivot-forming member and being provided at its outer end with an arcuate eccentrically located face for locking engagement against the face of the web of the inner channel, spring means associated with the locking plate for normally holding said plate in locked engagement with the inner channel, and manually operable handle-forming means for optionally swinging said locking plate out of locked position, whereby to free said channels for relative sliding movement with respect to each other.

5. A self-locking extension slide comprising an outer channel having a U-shaped cross-sectional contour and integrally including a flat web portion and outwardly projecting marginal flanges, the web of the outer channel being provided with an aperture, an inner channel of U-shaped crosssectional contour and integrally including a web portion and outwardly projecting marginal flanges, said inner channel being dimensionally smaller than the outer channel for loose-fitting telescopic disposition within the outer channel, bearing means operatively disposed between the flanges of the outer and inner channels, respectively, for holding the inner channel in slidably shiftable spaced relation within the outer channel, a pivot-forming member rigidly mounted upon the web of the outer channel adjacent to said aperture and located within the confines of the inner channel, a locking plate rockably mounted upon the pivot-forming member and being provided at its outer end with an arcuate eccentrically located face for locking engagement against the face of the web of the inner channel, said locking plate projecting at its other end outward- 1y through the aperture, spring means associated with the locking plate for normally holding said plate in locked engagement with the inner channel, and manually operable handle-forming means connected to the outwardly projecting ends of the locking plate for optionally swinging said locking plate out of locked position, whereby to free said channels for relative sliding movement with respect to each other.

BENJAMIN A. WOINA.

ARCHER W. RICHARDS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,323 Parish Mar. 31, 1903 913,204 Dickson Feb. 23, 1909 949,119 Gruender Feb. 15, 1910 Number Number 8 Name Date Bruton May 26, 1914 Northall May 30, 1916 Cunningham July 18, 1916 Rogginger Apr. 20, 1920 Gabriel et al. Dec. 20, 1921 Matthes Dec. 29, 1931 Stouges Mar. 21, 1933 Delaval et a1. Mar. 2, 1937 Vance May 21, 1940 Hyland July 6, 1943 McFall June 13, 1950 Buntin June 12, 1951 Virtue Jan. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July 6, 1909 

